Letters

Southampton Village residents should note that since Mayor Bill Manger assumed office, Trustees Robin Brown, Roy Stevenson and Len Zinnanti have voted with him 100 percent of the time. This unwavering compliance is evidence of a lack of independent thought.

A glaring example is Manger’s recent law to grant a tax exemption to some of the village’s most expensive properties [“Southampton Village Board Adopts Historic Home Rehabilitation Tax Exemption, 4-1,” 27east.com, February 26]. Benefits of this law aside, this policy was misleadingly presented as not causing nonexemption residents to pay higher taxes, and as a “deferment,” a term that implies a temporary postponement of tax obligations. The Southampton Press said: “It was baffling to hear Mayor Bill Manger attempt to reframe the exemption as a ‘deferment’” [“Call It What It Is,” Editorial, March 6].

Such misrepresentation is not a semantic error; it reflects either a profound ignorance of tax law or a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. Alarmingly, neither the village attorney, whose 30-hour-per-week and six-figure-salary job depends on Manger’s favor, nor the village administrator challenged this misinformation. Their collective silence suggests a culture of fear and complicity.

Manger’s behavior further undermines his false campaign promise of “civility.” In a display The Press described as an “unfortunate lack of decorum,” Manger yelled at Trustee Ed Simioni, suggesting he needed to “go to business school.” The editorial noted that this outburst was “particularly lamentable given that it was Manger who needed to brush up on the difference between an exemption and a deferment, and the impact that exemptions have on the rest of the tax base.”

This incident is not an isolated lapse but part of a pattern of Manger yelling at residents, including myself, and attacking other elected officials when they provide data, facts or an alternative opinion.

The present incumbent trustees have demonstrated a complete lack of any ability to think for themselves. In the present case, these trustees actually endorsed the mayor’s obviously erroneous statements. Their lock-step voting deprives the village residents of the opportunity to hear alternate points of view. This is bad government.

In June, village residents should vote for candidates who will offer independent approaches to issues.

David Rung

Southampton Village